ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS
The Maryland Tax Court hears appeals from the final decisions of State or local taxing authorities, including decisions of the Comptroller of Maryland, Property Tax Assessment Appeals Boards, and local collectors (Code Tax-General Article, Title 3 and sec. 13-510; Tax-Property Article, sec. 14-512; Art. 48A, sec. 641). In tax controversies, the Maryland Tax Court is the highest level of administrative review. The Court makes factual determinations and adjudicates disputes about income tax, sales and use tax, and real and personal property assessments. Judges conduct pretrial conferences, try cases, and draft opinions. Appeals of Tax Court decisions may be made to the Circuit Court.
Duties of the Court when they first began in 1878 were assigned to the State Tax Commissioner. By 1914 they had devolved to the State Tax Commission, and in 1959 to the Maryland Tax Court (Chapter 757, Acts of 1959).
The Court consists of five judges appointed by the Governor for six-year terms. One judge must reside on the Eastern Shore, one on the Western Shore, and one in Baltimore City. Two must be residents of the State at large. All must be qualified voters of Maryland, but no more than three may be of the same political party. At least two must be members of the Maryland Bar; the Governor names one of these Chief Judge (Code Tax-General Article, sec. 3-106).
Maryland Manual On-Line, 2009
July 1, 2009
Note: In this past edition of Maryland Manual, some links are to external sites. View the current Manual
© Copyright May 23, 2007 Maryland State Archives